To bless another, to encourage another, is one of the most important facets of life. Biblical examples abound: in the early church, Christians washed each other’s feet; they laid hands tenderly on one another; and practiced the “holy kiss.” And when the prodigal son returned home, his father ran to him, through his arms around him and hugged and kissed him!

    Some of you might say, “Well, I laid hands on my son, too! I gave him a spank on the backside.” But just remember, for every one spank on the backside, give him five hugs on the front side. For every spank on the backside, hold his cheeks, hold them between your loving hands and give him five kisses on the forehead.

    Five to one. That’s what the researchers say. And I’ll bet you, the hugs and kisses do more for him than the spanks.

    So let’s make the rest of the day a little better. Give your kid a hug—five hugs—today!